Congress in CRISIS: Bipartisan EXPULSION Drama

The U.S. Capitol building with an American flag flying against a blue sky

A rare bipartisan push to expel multiple House members facing sexual misconduct and financial crime allegations is challenging Congress’s traditional reluctance to police its own ranks as lawmakers return from recess.

Story Snapshot

Four House members face expulsion resolutions over sexual assault allegations, money laundering, and ethics violations as Congress returns April 14, 2026
Bipartisan lawmakers including Reps. Anna Paulina Luna, Byron Donalds, and Nancy Mace are pushing paired expulsion votes targeting both Democrats and Republicans
Rep. Eric Swalwell dropped his California governor bid after a former staffer accused him of sexual assault, while Rep. Tony Gonzales faces similar misconduct allegations
Two-thirds majority requirement makes expulsion historically rare, with leadership remaining silent on whether votes will proceed

Bipartisan Momentum Tests Congressional Accountability

The House of Representatives confronts an unprecedented accountability crisis as lawmakers from both parties unite to expel colleagues embroiled in serious misconduct scandals. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna plans to consult with the House parliamentarian on April 14 about pairing expulsion resolutions targeting Rep. Eric Swalwell and Rep. Tony Gonzales simultaneously. This bipartisan approach represents a strategic effort to overcome the traditional partisan protection that has historically shielded members from consequences. Rep. Byron Donalds told NBC the allegations are “despicable” and declared that “both need to go home,” while Rep. Nancy Mace bluntly stated Congress should “expel all of them.”

Swalwell Faces Criminal Probe After Staffer Allegations

Rep. Eric Swalwell dropped out of California’s 2026 gubernatorial race after a former staffer accused him of sexual assault in revelations published by the San Francisco Chronicle. Manhattan prosecutors opened a criminal investigation into the allegations, which Swalwell denies while admitting to “lack of judgment” in unspecified conduct. The California Democrat had been positioning himself as a progressive standard-bearer before the scandal derailed his ambitions. His situation mirrors the predicament facing Rep. Tony Gonzales, a Texas Republican who acknowledged an improper relationship with a staffer while facing House Ethics Committee investigation for sexual misconduct. Gonzales announced he would not seek re-election, though he has not resigned.

Ethics Violations Compound Congressional Crisis

The expulsion push extends beyond sexual misconduct to encompass brazen financial crimes that undermine public trust. The House Ethics Committee found Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick guilty of over two dozen rule violations, including money laundering and funneling more than five million dollars in disaster relief funds to her campaign and personal use. The Florida Democrat faces potential decades in prison but continues to deny wrongdoing while running for re-election. Rep. Cory Mills, a Florida Republican, faces separate Ethics Committee scrutiny for domestic violence allegations, stolen valor claims, and improper financial ties to defense contractors. Both members represent the type of corruption that fuels Americans’ disgust with Washington’s culture of protecting the powerful.

High Bar for Expulsion Creates Uncertain Outcome

Expelling a House member requires a two-thirds majority vote, a threshold achieved only 22 times in congressional history, mostly during the Civil War era. The most recent expulsion removed Rep. George Santos in 2023 for campaign fraud, though President Trump later pardoned him in 2025. Jon Taylor, a political science professor at the University of Texas at San Antonio, called the current expulsion push “stunning” given that the accused members’ terms end in January 2027. Taylor suggested the better course would be letting them finish their terms rather than triggering costly special elections. House leadership from both parties has remained conspicuously silent on whether they will allow floor votes to proceed, revealing the reluctance of establishment figures to enforce accountability even when rank-and-file members demand it.

The silence from Speaker Mike Johnson and Democratic leaders exposes a fundamental problem plaguing Congress: those in power prioritize institutional stability over justice for victims and taxpayers. The bipartisan nature of this accountability push represents a rare moment when lawmakers acknowledge what ordinary Americans have long known—Congress operates under different rules than the rest of the country. Whether this momentum translates into actual consequences or fades into another empty gesture will signal whether the institution retains any capacity for self-correction. The American people are watching to see if their representatives will finally enforce the standards they claim to uphold, or if the deep-rooted culture of protecting the powerful will prevail once again.